Daya adds to flying experience on Airbus helicopter
Daya Aviation has added to its fleet of helicopters, the Airbus EC 130 T2 – 7-seater, worth US$3.6 million, one of three such aircraft in South Asia.
As a multi-role rotocraft, the helicopter includes a vibration control system and many safety features and is one of the first such aircraft brought down to the country, the company stated at the launch of the latest helicopter on Thursday.
Speaking with the Business Times, Daya Group Chairman Daya Gamage said that currently they were facing an issue with the parking of this newly launched helicopter due to lack of space availability at the Ratmalana airport. A hangar is required to park aircraft available at the Ratmalana airport, but this new aircraft would be parked outside the presently owned hangar at the airport.
Daya Aviation commenced charter operations in 2006 with its initial four-seater Beach Craft Baron; 19-seater Jet Stream 32 and a 14-seater Cessna Caravan. A media release stated the planes on offer were available for charter operations domestically. Mr. Gamage said they had problems in the past due to the limited availability of hangars; and since some of these were given to companies that do not operate any aircraft. In the future, the Airport and Aviation Authority Ltd would be having discussions on the distribution of hangars among the aircraft operators. In the meantime, Mr. Gamage pointed out that while national security was important, civil aviation in a post war era was vital. He had come up against a number of problems in the past due to political reasons, Mr. Gamage said.